Top cover assembly for laundry dryer

ABSTRACT

Top cover assembly including a top cover mounted on a side plate of a cabinet, a fire plate between the side plate and the top cover, for preventing spreading of fire taking place in the cabinet to an exterior, and a cabinet holder for fastening the fire plate to the side plate, thereby enhancing a sense of beauty in view of design and preventing spreading of fire taking place in the cabinet.

[0001] This application claims the benefit of the Korean Application No.P2002-0045346 filed on Jul. 31, 2002, which is hereby incorporated byreference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to laundry dryers, and moreparticularly, to a top cover assembly for a laundry dryer.

[0004] 2. Discussion of the Related Art

[0005] In general, a laundry dryer dries a wet washed objectautomatically. A system of the laundry dryer will be described, withreference to the attached drawings.

[0006] Referring to FIG. 1, a cabinet ‘B’, forming an exterior of thelaundry dryer, is provided with a base 1, a front plate 2, a side plate3, a back cover 4, and a top cover 5.

[0007] The base 1 and the back cover 4 form a bottom surface and a rearsurface of the cabinet ‘B’, and the front plate 2 and the side plate 3form a front surface and a side surface. The top cover 5, mounted abovethe front plate 2, the side plate 3, and the back cover 4, forms a topsurface of the cabinet ‘B’. There are a control panel 6 on the top cover5 for user's operation, and a door 7 in the front plate 2 for preventionof escape of drying object, such as laundry.

[0008] In addition, there is a drying drum (not shown) in the cabinet‘B’ to be rotatable by a rotation power from a motor (not shown). Airheated by a heater (not shown) is forcibly introduced into the dryingdrum, for drying the laundry and the like in the drying drum.

[0009] The base 1, the front plate 2, the side plate 3, the back cover4, and the top cover 5 of the cabinet ‘B’ are formed of steel plate inthe event of a fire taking place in the cabinet ‘B’ caused by foreignmatters such as fluff, or an electrical short at a contact. That is, thetop cover 5 and the like are formed of steel plate for preventing a firetaking place in the cabinet ‘B’ from spreading to an exterior.

[0010] However, the related art laundry dryer has the following problemscaused by the steel construction.

[0011] At first, the related art top cover is fabricated by pressing thesteel plate and painting an outside surface thereof. Therefore, therelated art top cover having a simple flat surface has a poor aestheticquality from a design standpoint.

[0012] Moreover, even if the top cover is curved for better design, thetop cover of steel plate shows wrinkles on its periphery.

[0013] In conclusion, the related art top cover 5 has a structure thatis difficult to curve despite not being exposed to danger of fire.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a top coverassembly for a laundry dryer that substantially obviates one or more ofthe problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

[0015] An advantage of the present invention is to provide a top coverassembly for a laundry dryer, that separates the top cover from the fireresistant housing, thereby allowing for a greater variety of materialsand designs to be used on the top surface whicle still preventing firetaking place in the laundry dryer from spreading to the exterior.

[0016] Additional features and advantages of the invention will be setforth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparentfrom the description, or may be learned from practice of the invention.The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realizedand attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the writtendescription and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

[0017] To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with thepurpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, thetop cover assembly includes a top cover mounted on a side plate of acabinet, a fire plate between the side plate and the top cover, forpreventing the spreading of fire taking place in the cabinet to anexterior, and a cabinet holder for fastening the fire plate to the sideplate.

[0018] The top cover is formed of plastic, and includes a curved topsurface. The fire plate includes a top surface having a curve the samewith the top cover.

[0019] The cabinet holder and the fire plate include an outside surfacemounted to be in contact with an inside surface of the top cover forserving as a supporting wall which prevents the side surface of the topcover pushed inward by an external force. The fire plate includesgrooves in a center part for improving a rigidity of the fire plate.

[0020] The cabinet holder includes a plurality of fastening piecesformed on an underside of the cabinet holder for fastening the fireplate to the side plate. In this instance, the fire plate includes afirst flange at each of opposite edges having a plurality of firstfastening holes for inserting the fastening pieces, and the side plateincludes a second flange in top part having a plurality of secondfastening holes in communication with the first fastening holes.

[0021] The cabinet holder further includes a plurality of through holesin communication with the first, and second holes, and the fasteningpiece is formed on an underside of an edge of one side of the throughhole.

[0022] The second flange further includes a plurality of positioningprojections projected upward for alignment of a fastening position ofthe side plate with the fire plate, and the first flange furtherincludes first inserting holes for inserting the positioning projectionstherein.

[0023] The cabinet holder may further include a plurality of secondinserting holes for inserting the positioning projections projectedthrough the first inserting holes. The positioning projections areformed by lancing, and the fire plate includes grooves in a center partof a top surface for improving a rigidity of the fire plate.

[0024] The cabinet holder and the fire plate include outside surfacesmounted to be in contact with an inside surface of the top cover forserving as a supporting wall which prevents the side surface of the topcover pushed inward by an external force.

[0025] In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided alaundry dryer including a side plate and a front plate of a cabinet, adoor in a front surface of the front plate, a top cover on top of theside plate and the front plate, a control panel on the top cover, a fireplate between the side plate and the front plate and the top cover forpreventing spreading of fire taking place in the cabinet, and a cabinetholder for joining the fire plate to the side plate.

[0026] The laundry dryer further includes a cabinet bracket on each oftop corners of the laundry dryer where the front plate and the sideplate are joined, for joining with opposite ends of the front plate andthe side plate.

[0027] The cabinet bracket includes a hook fastener on top thereof, andthe top cover includes a hook for fastening to the hook fastener.

[0028] It is to be understood that both the foregoing description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and areintended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRITPION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide afurther understanding of the invention and are incorporated in andconstitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of theinvention and together with the description serve to explain theprinciple of the invention.

[0030] In the drawings;

[0031]FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view showing an outside shape ofa related art laundry dryer;

[0032]FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view showing an outside shape ofa laundry dryer in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0033]FIG. 3 illustrates a disassembled perspective view of “A” part inFIG. 2 for describing a top cover assembly for a laundry dryer inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0034]FIG. 4A illustrates a section across a line I-I in FIG. 3 showinga state before a cabinet holder fastens the fire plate to a side plate;

[0035]FIG. 4B illustrates a section showing a state after the fasteningin FIG. 4A; and

[0036]FIG. 5 illustrates a section across a line II-II in FIG. 4B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

[0037] Reference will now be made in detail to an embodiment of thepresent invention, example of which is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings.

[0038] An outside shape of the laundry dryer of the present inventionwill be described. Referring to FIG. 2, the laundry dryer has a frontplate 20 forming a front of the cabinet ‘B’, and a side plate 30 and aback cover 40 forming a side and a rear of the cabinet ‘B’. There are abase 10 below the plates 20 and 30 and the back cover 40, to form abottom of the cabinet ‘B’, and a top cover 50 at a top thereof.

[0039] There are a control panel 60 on the top cover 50 for user'soperation, and a door 100 in the front plate 20. The door permits theuser to introduce or take out laundry into/from the cabinet “B”.

[0040] Different from the related art top cover 5, the top cover 50 ofthe present invention is fabricated to have a curved top edge. For this,it is preferable that the top cover 50 is formed of plastic. Thefabrication of the top cover 50 of plastic is easier than the same ofsteel plate in forming, and able to prevent wrinkle formation in theperiphery following curving. Of course, the top cover 50 may befabricated of a steel plate the same as with the related art for betterstrength. Moreover, the top cover 50 may have a simple curve, or anotherdesired form of top surface.

[0041] An inside structure, particularly a top cover 50 assemblystructure of the laundry dryer of the present invention, will bedescribed in detail.

[0042] Referring to FIG. 3, the top cover 50 assembly for a laundrydryer of the present invention includes a top cover 50, a fire plate 70,and a cabinet holder 80.

[0043] As described, the top cover 50, formed of plastic, can have avariety of forms, such that a top surface thereof is curved, and thelike. The fire plate is under the top cover 50, for preventing spreadingof fire taking place in the cabinet ‘B’. To do this, the fire plate 70is formed of a fire proofing material, and preferably of metal, such assteel plate, taking strength, and the like, into account.

[0044] A top surface of the fire plate 70 may be formed to have acurvature similar to the top surface of the top cover 50. The fire plate70 may have grooves 730 in a center part of top surface additionally forenhancing a rigidity of the fire plate 70. The fire plate 70 is joinedwith a side plate 30 forming a side of the cabinet ‘B’ with the cabinetholder 80.

[0045] The cabinet holder 80 is provided on the fire plate 70 and has aplurality of fastening pieces 830 each bent down from the cabinet holder80 for joining the fire plate 70 with the side plate 80. Referring toFIG. 3, even though the cabinet holder 80 has a form of a bar, it isapparent that, even if there is no further description, the form of thecabinet holder 80 is not limited to this, but may have a variety offorms.

[0046] The fire plate 70 has a first flange 700 at each of oppositeedges for joining the cabinet holder 80. The first flange 700 has aplurality of fastening holes 710 for inserting the fastening pieces 830on the cabinet holder 80.

[0047] On the other hand, there is a second flange 300 in top part ofthe side plate 30 for seating the first flange on the fire plate 70. Thesecond flange 300 has second fastening holes 310 in communication withthe first fastening holes 710. Thus, the fastening pieces 830 arerespectively inserted into the first and second fastening holes 710 and310 on the flanges 300 and 700, for joining the fire plate 70 with theside plate 30.

[0048] The second flange 300 may have a plurality of positioningprojections 320 further. The positioning projections 320 are upwardprojections from the second flange 300 for alignment of the side plate30 with the fire plate 70, for which the fire plate 70 has a pluralityof inserting holes 720 in the first flange 700 for inserting thepositioning projections 320.

[0049] That is, the positioning projections 320 are inserted in thefirst inserting holes 720 in assembly for an exact alignment of the sideplate 30 and the fire plate 70. The positioning projections are formedby lancing parts of the second flange 300. The lancing, a kind of sheetmetal working, cuts and bends a part of the sheet metal with a pressmold in one stroke.

[0050] In addition, the cabinet holder 80 may further have secondinserting holes 820 in communication with the first inserting holes 720.This is because the projection of the positioning projections 320 abovethe first flange 700 through the first inserting holes 720 makes theassembly difficult. Therefore, if the height of the positioningprojections 320 are adjusted so as not to be projected above the firstinserting holes 720, no second inserting holes 820 are required.

[0051] Moreover, the cabinet holder 80 may further have a plurality ofthrough holes 810 in communication with the first and second fasteningholes 710 and 310. The through holes 810, formed for making an exactjoining of the fastening pieces 830 with the fire plate 70 and the sideplate 30 sure, will be described in description of a top cover 50joining given later in more detail. When the cabinet holder 80 hasthrough holes, each of the fastening pieces 830 is formed on anunderside of an edge of one side of each of the through holes 810.

[0052] In addition, there is a cabinet bracket 90 on top of each cornerof the cabinet where the side plate 30 and the front plate 20 arejoined. The bracket 90 is fastened to ends of the plates 20 and 30 withscrews, or the like, for joining the plates 20 and 30.

[0053] The cabinet bracket 90 is also fastened to the top cover 50. Forthis, the cabinet bracket 90 has a hook fastener 910, and the top cover50 has a hook 510 on an inside surface to be held at the hook fastener910. As shown in the drawing, the hook fastener 910 may be formed on atop surface of the front plate 20, or the side plate 30.

[0054] A process for assembling the top cover 50 of the laundry dryer ofthe present invention will be described.

[0055] Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the fire plate 70 is aligned withthe side plate 30 by means of the positioning pieces 320 and the firstinserting holes 720. Then, the fire plate 70 is placed on the side plate30 such that the first flange 700 of the fire plate 70 abuts the secondflange 300 of the side plate 30.

[0056] In this instance, the positioning piece 320 is positioned to passthrough the first inserting hole. In general, since numbers of thepositioning pieces 320 and the first inserting holes 720 are equal,every one positioning piece 320 is inserted in every one first insertinghole 720. Therefore, if either the positioning piece 320 or the firstinserting hole 720 is in surplus or is missing, it means that the fireplate 70 is misaligned and re-alignment of the fire plate 70 isrequired.

[0057] Once the fire plate 70 is placed on the side plate 30, the firstfastening holes 710 in the fire plate 70 and the second fastening holes310 in the side plate 30 are also aligned (abuts). Then, the fasteningpieces 830 on the cabinet holder 80 are inserted into the aligned firstand second fastening holes 710 and 310.

[0058] If there are the second inserting holes 820 in the cabinet holder80 for preventing interference between the positioning pieces 320 andthe cabinet holder 80, the positioning pieces 320 are positioned to passthrough the first and second inserting holes 720 and 820. Then, when thecabinet holder 80 is pushed in the front plate direction 20, the fireplate 70 and the side plate 30 are inserted between the gaps G in thefastening pieces 830, to join the fire plate 70 with the side plate 30.The pushing direction of the cabinet holder 80 is related with a formingdirection of the fastening pieces 830. Accordingly, if the fasteningpieces 830 are formed opposite to the drawing, it is required to pushthe cabinet holder 80 in a direction of the back cover 40 in thejoining.

[0059] The second inserting hole 820 is formed greater than the firstinserting hole 720 because the cabinet holder 80 moves during assemblyor disassembly. That is, as described, for joining the fire plate 70with the side plate 30 with the fastening pieces 830, it is required topush the cabinet holder 80 forward. Therefore, if the second insertinghole 820 is short, the cabinet holder 80 cannot move due to thepositioning pieces 320 that are positioned passed through the secondinserting holes 820, which is the same in disassembly.

[0060] Furthermore, if there are through holes 810 in the cabinet holder80, each of the fastening pieces 830 is formed on an underside of anedge of a side of each of the through holes 810. The through holes 810are formed for making an exact fastening of the fastening pieces 830with the fire plate 70 and the side plate 30 sure. That is, an exactgripping on the fire plate 70 and the side plate 30 by the fasteningpieces 830 is made sure. As shown in FIG. 4B, in a case the throughholes 810 are formed at a size the same with the first or secondfastening hole 710 or 310, if the through holes 810 are aligned with thefirst and second fastening holes 710 and 310, it means that the joiningis completed.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 5, after the joining of the fire plate 70 andthe side plate 30 with the cabinet holder 80 is finished, the top cover50 is placed on, and joined with the side plate 30. The joining of thetop cover 50 is done when the hooks 510 on the top cover 50 are fastenedto the hook fasteners 910 on the cabinet bracket 90. Of course, forfirmer fastening, the top cover 50 may be fastened to the back cover 40with screws, additionally.

[0062] When the assembly is finished thus, the fire plate 70, thecabinet holder 80 and the top cover 50 are positioned on the secondflange 300 of the side plate 30. The fire plate 70 is positioned insideof top of the second flange 300, and the top cover 50 is positionedoutside of top of the second flange 300, with the cabinet holder 80arranged in between.

[0063] In this instance, it is preferable that edges of the cabinetholder 80 and the fire plate 70 are in contact with an inside surface ofthe top cover 50. According to this, the top cover 50, having a sidesupported on the outside of the cabinet holder 80 and the first flange700, is not pushed in. That is, the cabinet holder 80 both fastens thefire plate 70 to the side plate 30, and serves as a supporting wallwhich prevents the side of the top cover 50 from being pushed inwardinto the cabinet ‘B’ when an external force is applied to the side ofthe top cover 50.

[0064] The top surface of the top cover 5 is curved, and the fire plate70 is also fabricated to follow the curve of the top cover 50.Accordingly, even if the fire plate 70 of metal has a wrinkled part dueto the curving, the curve of the fire plate 70 does not affect thevisual design because the fire plate 70 is covered with the top cover50.

[0065] The fire plate 70 may have grooves 730 in a center part of topsurface in front and rear direction additionally for enhancing arigidity of the fire plate 70.

[0066] A top cover 50 assembly for a laundry dryer is discussed up tonow. However, because drum type washing machines used currently can alsoserve as laundry dryers, the top cover assembly is applicable to thedrum type washing machine, too.

[0067] The top cover assembly for a laundry dryer of the presentinvention has the following advantages.

[0068] A fire safety can be secured, and the visual appearance of theproduct can be enhanced in view of design. That is, by providing acurved top cover, the sense of beauty of the product can be enhanced inview of design. Also, by preventing spreading of a fire taking place inthe product to an exterior, a laundry dryer which can secure safety fromfire can be provided.

[0069] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variation can be made in the present invention withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it isintended that the present invention cover the modifications andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A top cover assembly comprising: a top covermounted on a side plate of a cabinet; a fire plate between the sideplate and the top cover, for preventing spreading of fire taking placein the cabinet to an exterior; and a cabinet holder fastening the fireplate to the side plate.
 2. The top cover assembly as claimed in claim1, wherein the top cover is plastic.
 3. The top cover assembly asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the top cover includes a curved top surface.4. The top cover assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fire plateincludes a top surface having a curvature matching a curvature of thetop cover.
 5. The top cover assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein thecabinet holder and the fire plate include sides mounted in contact withan inside surface of the top cover, said sides serving as a supportingwall which prevents the side surface of the top cover from inwarddeformation by an external force.
 6. The top cover assembly as claimedin claim 1, wherein the fire plate includes grooves in a center part forimproving a rigidity of the fire plate.
 7. The top cover assembly asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the cabinet holder includes a plurality offastening pieces on an underside of the cabinet holder for fastening thefire plate to the side plate.
 8. The top cover assembly as claimed inclaim 7, wherein the fire plate includes a first flange at each ofopposite edges having a plurality of first fastening holes receiving thefastening pieces, and the side plate includes a second flange in toppart having a plurality of second fastening holes in communication withthe first fastening holes.
 9. The top cover assembly as claimed in claim8, wherein the cabinet holder further includes a plurality of throughholes in communication with the first, and second holes, and at leastone of said fastening pieces is on an underside of an edge of one sideof the through hole.
 10. The top cover assembly as claimed in claim 8,wherein the second flange further includes a plurality of positioningprojections projected upward for alignment of a fastening position ofthe side plate with the fire plate, and the first flange furtherincludes first inserting holes receiving the positioning projectionstherein.
 11. The top cover assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein thecabinet holder further includes a plurality of second inserting holesreceiving the positioning projections projected through the firstinserting holes.
 12. The top cover assembly as claimed in claim 10,wherein the positioning projections are formed by lancing.
 13. The topcover assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the fire plate includesgrooves in a center part of a top surface for improving a rigidity ofthe fire plate.
 14. The top cover assembly as claimed in claim 8,wherein the cabinet holder and the fire plate include sides mounted incontact with an inside surface of the top cover, said sides serving as asupporting wall which prevents the side surface of the top cover frominward deformation by an external force.
 15. A laundry dryer comprising:a side plate and a front plate of a cabinet; a door in a front surfaceof the front plate; a top cover on top of the side plate and the frontplate; a control panel on the top cover; a fire plate between the sideplate and the front plate and the top cover for preventing spreading ofa fire taking place in the cabinet; and a cabinet holder joining thefire plate to the side plate.
 16. The laundry dryer as claimed in claim15, further comprising a cabinet bracket on each of top corners of thelaundry dryer where the front plate and the side plate are joined, forjoining with opposite ends of the front plate and the side plate. 17.The laundry dryer as claimed in claim 16, wherein the cabinet bracketincludes a hook fastener on top thereof, and the top cover includes ahook for fastening to the hook fastener.
 18. The laundry dryer asclaimed in claim 15, wherein the top cover is formed of plastic.
 19. Thelaundry dryer as claimed in claim 15, wherein the top cover includes acurved edge.
 20. The laundry dryer as claimed in claim 15, wherein thefire plate includes a top surface having a curvature matching acurvature of the top cover.
 21. The laundry dryer as claimed in claim15, wherein the cabinet holder includes a plurality of fastening pieceson an underside of the cabinet holder fastening the fire plate to theside plate.
 22. The laundry dryer as claimed in claim 21, wherein thefire plate includes a first flange at each of opposite edges having aplurality of first fastening holes receiving the fastening pieces, andthe side plate includes a second flange in a top part having a pluralityof second fastening holes in communication with the first fasteningholes.
 23. The laundry dryer as claimed in claim 22, wherein the cabinetholder further includes a plurality of through holes in communicationwith the first, and second holes, and the fastening piece is on anunderside of an edge of one side of the through hole.
 24. The laundrydryer as claimed in claim 22, wherein the second flange further includesa plurality of positioning projections projected upward for alignment ofa fastening position of the side plate with the fire plate, and thefirst flange further includes first inserting holes receiving thepositioning projections therein.
 25. The laundry dryer as claimed inclaim 24, wherein the cabinet holder further includes a plurality ofsecond inserting holes receiving the positioning projections projectedthrough the first inserting holes.